What are the top 10 cities with the highest pay for Entry Level Cook?

We've identified 6 cities in Indiana where Entry Level Cook jobs typically pay above the area average. Topping the list is Valparaiso (5.0% above average), followed by Notre Dame and Lafayette. City Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage Valparaiso $33,298 $2,774 $640 $16.01 Notre Dame $32,676 $2,723 $628 $15.71 Lafayette $32,077 $2,673 $616 $15.42 Westfield $31,978 $2,664 $614 $15.37 Indianapolis $31,868 $2,655 $612 $15.32 Paoli $31,752 $2,646 $610 $15.27 Terre Haute $31,709 $2,642 $609 $15.24 Greenwood $31,638 $2,636 $608 $15.21 Carmel $31,580 $2,631 $607 $15.18 Frankfort $31,406 $2,617 $603 $15.10

Entry Level Cook

Entry Level Cook Salary in Indiana

Q: How much does an Entry Level Cook make in Indiana?

The average annual pay for an entry level cook in Indiana is $31,725 a year — that works out to approximately $15.25 an hour. That is 4.8% below the national average of $33,340. The middle 80% of Entry Level Cooks earn between $22,837 (10th percentile) and $40,441 (90th percentile) per year, depending on experience and employer.

Q: What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Entry Level Cook Jobs in Indiana?

We found several jobs related to Entry Level Cook in Indiana that pay more on average. Topping the list is Wolf at $7,085 (22.3%) above Entry Level Cook. Job Title Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage Wolf $38,810 $3,234 $746 $18.66 Military Cook $31,963 $2,663 $614 $15.37 Production Cook $31,886 $2,657 $613 $15.33 Kitchen Assistant $30,495 $2,541 $586 $14.66 Pizza $30,170 $2,514 $580 $14.50

$17.6K

$31.4K

$43.8K

$31,725

/year

$15.25

/hour

Entry Level Cook Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$33,340

Indiana

$31,725

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How much does an Entry Level Cook make in Indiana?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average annual pay for an Entry Level Cook in Indiana is $31,725 a year.

Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $15.25 an hour. This is the equivalent of $610/week or $2,643/month.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $43,772 and as low as $17,604, the majority of Entry Level Cook salaries currently range between $26,600 (25th percentile) to $35,700 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $40,441 annually in Indiana. The average pay range for an Entry Level Cook varies greatly (by as much as 9100), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

Indiana ranks number 50 out of 50 states nationwide for Entry Level Cook salaries.

To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Entry Level Cook jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

Find your next high paying job as an Entry Level Cook on ZipRecruiter today.

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Entry Level Cook Jobs in Indiana

We've identified 6 cities where the typical salary for an Entry Level Cook job is above the average in Indiana in Indiana. Topping the list is Valparaiso, , with Notre Dame, and Lafayette, close behind in the second and third positions. Lafayette, beats the average in Indiana by $352 (1.1%), and Valparaiso, furthers that trend with another $1,573 (5.0%) above the $31,725 average.

With these 6 cities paying on average above the average for Indiana, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as an Entry Level Cook appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 5% between Valparaiso, and Frankfort, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for an Entry Level Cook role.

City	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
Valparaiso	$33,298	$2,774	$640	$16.01
Notre Dame	$32,676	$2,723	$628	$15.71
Lafayette	$32,077	$2,673	$616	$15.42
Westfield	$31,978	$2,664	$614	$15.37
Indianapolis	$31,868	$2,655	$612	$15.32
Paoli	$31,752	$2,646	$610	$15.27
Terre Haute	$31,709	$2,642	$609	$15.24
Greenwood	$31,638	$2,636	$608	$15.21
Carmel	$31,580	$2,631	$607	$15.18
Frankfort	$31,406	$2,617	$603	$15.10

What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Entry Level Cook Jobs in Indiana

Analyzing similar jobs related to the Entry Level Cook job category in Indiana, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $31725 state average for Entry Level Cook jobs.

Job Title	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
Wolf	$38,810	$3,234	$746	$18.66
Military Cook	$31,963	$2,663	$614	$15.37
Production Cook	$31,886	$2,657	$613	$15.33
Kitchen Assistant	$30,495	$2,541	$586	$14.66
Pizza	$30,170	$2,514	$580	$14.50

About Our Data

ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

Infographic detailing Entry Level Cook salary in Indiana as of August 2026. Shows a bar chart with salary percentiles ranging from $26,600 to $40,441 annually, with the Indiana average at $31,725 per year or $15.25 per hour. Includes a list of the top 10 highest paying cities in Indiana for Entry Level Cook jobs, with Valparaiso leading at $33,298 annually.

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